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Montréal, Quebec, 2 October 2012 – The Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation announced today the latest four recipients of the prestigious $225,000 Trudeau fellowship. Trudeau fellowships are awarded to individuals who set themselves apart through their research achievements, their creativity, and their commitment to public issues of importance to Canada. The four 2012 Trudeau fellows are based at the universities of Ottawa, Toronto, British Columbia and York, and have backgrounds in aboriginal affairs, immigration law, philosophy, and film.

Dr. Pierre-Gerlier Forest, president of the Foundation, remarks that this year’s Trudeau fellows embody the distinctive nature of the Foundation. “These individuals will benefit from the support of the Foundation to pursue their work on issues of importance to our country, which they are exploring from a new and multidisciplinary angle. They are outstanding scholars and they are committed to making a significant contribution to advancing knowledge on issues that are not necessarily well supported by other organizations.”

The 2012 Trudeau fellows are :

• Maria Campbell(visiting Trudeau fellow), University of Ottawa: A prominent Métis cultural leader, Ms. Campbell has been volunteering for 40 years with Aboriginal children and women. During her fellowship, she will contribute to innovative research at the new Chair in Métis Studies at the University of Ottawa, aiming to help Canadians better understand Métis society, history, and culture.

• Catherine Dauvergne, University of British Columbia: One of Canada’s foremost authorities on refugee and immigration law, Professor Dauvergne is committed to transforming how Canada and other countries deal with refugees in a perspective of global justic

• Joseph Heath, University of Toronto: A renowned philosopher with an acute capacity to debunk widespread ideas on environmental, economical, social, and political issues, the scholarly and mainstream works of Professor Heath engage Canadians to ask fundamental questions about our society and how to make it more just.

• Janine Marchessault, York University: Through her groundbreaking creative work and research, Professor Marchessault aims to interpret and illustrate the city and its sustainability issues, combining urban planning, public art, and the media.

The 2012 Trudeau fellows will speak at the University of Toronto today at noon.

Since the Trudeau Fellowship Program began in 2002, the Foundation has named 46 Trudeau fellows upon the recommendation of an independent review panel. The Foundation considers candidates from all disciplines in the social sciences and humanities and all domains of the creative arts. It supports individuals active in one or more of four fields: human rights and dignity, responsible citizenship, Canada in the world, and people and their natural environment.

About the Trudeau Fellowship

The Trudeau fellowship is worth $225,000, payable over three years. Each year, the Foundation names up to five Trudeau fellows: academics and public intellectuals who have set themselves apart through their research achievements, their creativity, and their commitment to social affairs. Trudeau fellows enjoy extensive freedom in their use of their Trudeau funds. They commit to communicating their ideas and research through speaking engagements and by participating in the Trudeau Public Interaction Program. The Trudeau Lecture series and the Trudeau Foundation Papers, published annually since 2009, provide additional platforms for their ideas. A Trudeau fellowship gives the university and the fellow access to the Trudeau community of brilliant scholars and seasoned policymakers as well as to Trudeau events. Trudeau fellows are appointed for life.

About the Foundation

A Canadian institution with a national purpose, the Pierre Elliott Trudeau Foundation is an independent and non-partisan charity that was established in 2001 by the family, friends, and colleagues of the late Right Honourable Pierre Elliott Trudeau (1919-2000) as a living memorial to the former Canadian prime minister. In 2002, with the unanimous support of the House of Commons, the Government of Canada endowed the Foundation with a donation of $125 million. The Foundation also benefits from private sector donations.

One of Canada’s foremost authorities on refugee and immigration law, Professor Dauvergne is committed to transforming how Canada and other countries deal with refugees in a perspective of global justice.

Through her groundbreaking creative work and research, Professor Marchessault aims to interpret and illustrate the city and its sustainability issues, combining urban planning, public art, and the media.

A prominent Métis cultural leader, Ms. Campbell will contribute to innovative research at the new Chair in Métis Studies at the University of Ottawa, aiming to help Canadians better understand Métis society, history, and culture.

A renowned philosopher with an acute capacity to debunk widespread ideas on environmental, economical, social, and political issues, the scholarly and mainstream works of Professor Heath engage Canadians to ask fundamental questions about our society and how to make it more just.